LEED Certifications

UT is committed to conserving energy and resources throughout campus, and in August 2016 received LEED® Silver certification for the Maureen A. Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building. In March 2014, UT received LEED Gold certification from U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for Howard and Patricia Jenkins Hall. In September 2011, UT received LEED Gold certification for its Science Annex, and LEED Silver certification for its Dickey Health and Wellness Center.

What is LEED Certification?

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is an internationally recognized green building certification system that provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Efforts and tools are aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most to a building and its occupants: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Bailey Arts Studios – Fab Lab

The University of Tampa will rebuild part...

The University of Tampa will rebuild part of its Bailey Arts Studios on campus to host one of the most forward-thinking visual arts programs in the country, offering spaces for innovation and creativity amongst student and faculty inventors, designers, entrepreneurs and artists.

In alignment with UT’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the building will be designed and constructed to be a candidate for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Most notably, the project will include construction of a digital fabrication lab (the Fab Lab) that will be an entrepreneurially focused, collaborative maker-space for students and faculty to turn their ideas and dreams into prototypes and products. The space will include laser cutters, 3-D printers, computer numerical control (CNC) routers, large format printers, vinyl cutters and state-of-the-art computer technology.

Most notably, the project will include construction of a digital fabrication lab (the Fab Lab) that will be an entrepreneurially focused, collaborative maker-space for students and faculty to turn their ideas and dreams into prototypes and products.

The project is set to be completed in the spring semester.

Art and design students — from the freshman year on — will have access to the Fab Lab, which at other universities is usually reserved for graduates in engineering, architecture or the arts. Additionally, the Fab Lab will be available for UT students from various majors.

“According to Chris Valle, all of the rebuilt Bailey Arts Studios spaces will take their design cues from the edgy and collaborative vibe that is the standard in tech startups and other creative, professional spaces.

In addition to the Fab Lab, the rebuilt Bailey Arts Studio will include:

A modernized, state-of-the art photography studio and darkroom complete with professional-grade lighting studio and staging areas as well as an environmentally friendly dark room.

Two new high-tech classrooms that encourage interpersonal and technological engagement to support the growing graphic design major, and the digital arts generally.

A re-imagined printmaking studio with safety and technological improvements that diversifies the printmaking capabilities and combines traditional processes with new emerging digital tools.

According to Chris Valle, all of the rebuilt Bailey Arts Studios spaces will take their design cues from the edgy and collaborative vibe that is the standard in tech startups and other creative, professional spaces. “These new spaces are a physical manifestation of the vision of the art and design department and the College of Arts and Letters,” said Valle, chair and professor of art and design. “Art and design majors will have access to spaces that are as imaginative and aesthetically focused as they are. It is a perfect match.”

“Art and design majors will have access to spaces that are as imaginative and aesthetically focused as they are,” said Valle. “It is a perfect match.”

The Bailey Arts Studios, which is located on North Boulevard next to the Martinez Athletics Center, was originally developed in 2002 after a naming gift from the Bailey Family Foundation. The building is, and will remain, approximately 30,000 square feet.

Project architects are Eric Kreher and Bob Shumake, and the general contractor is Friedrich Watkins.

Graduate and Health Studies

In the Graduate and Health Studies Building, UT constructed its largest...

In the Graduate and Health Studies Building, The University of Tampa constructed its largest academic building yet, and on Friday, Aug. 31, celebrated its grand opening.

At 91,000 square feet, the building houses UT’s programs in nursing and physician assistant medicine, as well as UT’s Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies, classrooms, health science labs, a physics research lab, student gathering and study spaces, and faculty offices.In alignment with UT’s commitment to create a responsible, efficient, healthy and sustainable campus, the building was designed to be a candidate for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Two floors are dedicated to UT’s nursing program, which has long been renowned as one of the best in Florida. The nursing space includes a reception area, a large patient care center, ICU simulation rooms, health assessment clinical spaces, a student lounge and study spaces, faculty and staff offices, a large conference room and classrooms.

Two floors of the building were specifically designed for UT’s new program in physician assistant medicine. This facility includes a clinical skills lab, patient simulation labs, assessment rooms, digital anatomy lab, classrooms, study spaces, offices, a conference room and a unique moulage room, which is a specialized room for applying mock injuries for student training.The top floor, with sweeping views of campus and downtown Tampa, includes a reception area, a student study area, a conference room, classrooms, approximately 25 faculty and staff offices and other workspaces to provide support to UT’s Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.

A few of the Graduate and Health Studies Building’s design and construction sustainable features:

A solar photovoltaic system was installed as part of this project, helping the building perform an estimated 27 percent more efficient than a similar building.

Local materials that also contain recycled content were specified wherever possible to reduce the environmental impact of the building.

Over half of construction material waste was recycled, rather than sent to a landfill, further reducing the environmental impact of construction.

Ample natural light is provided through the building’s envelope design, which has proven to improve human health and productivity while also assisting in improving the building’s energy efficiency.

Highly efficient LED lighting was utilized throughout the building, which is also paired with lighting controls that will maximize the flexibility, comfort and health of occupants.

The building is tied into the campus district chilled water plant, while also featuring an energy recovery unit that reduces energy loss and improves mechanical system performance.

All water fixtures meet LEED water efficiency requirements, and reduce water waste by over 40 percent.

The mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are metered and monitored to ensure proper performance and allow for continued review of energy and water consumption to meet campus sustainability goals.

Fitness and Recreation Center

The Fitness and Recreation Center is the fifth building on UT’s campus...

In Fall 2017, The University of Tampa received LEED® Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its new Fitness and Recreation Center, which was opened in September 2016.

The 40,000 square-foot, two-story Fitness and Recreation Center is centrally located on campus. It is a one-stop shop for all exercise programs, personal training and evaluation, wellness and nutrition programs, intramurals, recreation activities, club sports and some exercise related laboratory and research activities.

Since its opening, the center has experienced a total of 168,628 student visits, and students have logged more than 4,800 hours on the Precor cardio equipment: treadmills; adaptive motion trainer; elliptical motion trainers; recumbent and upright bikes. An average of 48 group fitness classes are held each week, with an average weekly participation rate of 629 individuals.

"The University is committed to providing healthy, safe and efficient buildings for all students, faculty and staff," said UT President Ronald Vaughn. “The Fitness and Recreation Center is a well-utilized facility in the heart of campus. It is satisfying to have achieved LEED certification while also meeting our facility goals."

"The University of Tampa’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC. "LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize the built environment by providing everyone with healthy, green and high performing buildings. UT’s Fitness and Recreation Center serves as a prime example of how the work of innovative building projects can use local solutions to make a global impact on the environment."

Maureen A. Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building (ICB)

The Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building (ICB) is an eight-story structure...

In alignment with UT’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the ICB was designed and constructed to be a candidate for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, which was confirmed in August 2016.

A few of the ICB’s sustainable features:

The ICB is more than 30 percent more efficient than a comparable building;

Abundant daylight is maximized through lighting controls to use natural light whenever possible, and low voltage lighting and sensors are used throughout to promote energy efficiency;

More than 4,000 LED fixtures light the ICB; and,

All plumbing fixtures utilize high efficiency design to reduce water waste.

Howard and Patricia Jenkins Hall

Jenkins residence hall was designed and constructed with LEED certification...

Howard and Patricia Jenkins residence hall was designed and constructed with LEED certification as a project goal, and certification of LEED Gold was confirmed in March. In October, Jenkins was named the outstanding project of the year in the category of LEED for New Construction, Higher Education by the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. Sustainability-focused elements of this project include the following:

solar water heating system,

low-flow plumbing fixtures,

stormwater collection vault,

high efficiency lighting systems controls,

the very significant use of glass in the design to take advantage of day light in the living spaces, and

the use of recycled materials in construction and the recycling of over 1,200 tons of construction waste.

Dickey Health and Wellness Center

The Dickey Health and Wellness Center provides health...

The Dickey Health and Wellness Center, which opened in November 2010, provides health and wellness services to UT undergraduate students. The building’s design and construction teams adhered to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Certification guidelines to make the building a healthier, more efficient and sustainable building for the occupants and visitors of the building.

Sustainability Features of the Dickey Health and Wellness Center:

Recycling During Construction and Normal Operations – The project team worked to reduce the amount of waste leaving the site during construction by recycling many of the recyclable waste materials such as wood, metal, concrete, drywall, plastics and cardboard.

Low VOC Finishes – All finishes—paints, coatings, sealants, adhesives and woods—inside the building meet strict guidelines set forth by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, significantly improving the indoor air environment and health for all occupants.

Lighting Controls – Most interior spaces, including examination rooms, restrooms and offices, use occupancy sensors that will only turn on lights when the room is being used, and automatically turn off when the room has been vacated.

Individual Temperature Controls – Most offices in the building employ temperature controls to allow for occupants to control their thermal comfort individually, rather than requiring the entire building to be set at a lower temperature, significantly improving energy efficiency.

Low Flow Faucets and Fixtures – The building’s restrooms are fitted with low flow fixtures, including low flow faucets and toilets, significantly reducing water consumption in the building and reducing water demand by over 30 percent.

Locally Sourced/Recycled Materials – During construction, the design and build team reviewed all materials and sourced as many local/regional materials with recycled content as possible, reducing CO2 emissions from travel and reducing the need for virgin materials.

Science Annex

The Science Annex employed strategies during design...

The Science Annex, completed in August 2010, employed strategies during design and construction that would help the project be more efficient, sustainable and healthy.

Sustainability Features of the Science Annex:

Recycling During Construction and Normal Operations – The project team worked to reduce the amount of waste leaving the site during construction by recycling many of the recyclable waste materials such as wood, metal, concrete, drywall, plastics and cardboard.

Low Flow Faucets and Fixtures – The building’s restrooms are fitted with low flow fixtures, including low flow faucets and toilets, significantly reducing water consumption in the building and reducing water demand by over 30 percent.

Building Monitoring – All mechanical systems including the HVAC system, lighting and water distribution system have monitors that allow UT to review the consumption of energy and resources daily, which will help monitor the building’s operations and ensure continued efficiency.

Reflective Surfaces – The Science Annex is fitted with a highly reflective roof covering that reflects the sun’s heat, helping create a more comfortable indoor environment while reducing the energy required to cool the building.

Locally Sourced/Recycled Materials – During construction, the design and build team reviewed all materials and sourced as many local/regional materials with recycled content as possible, reducing CO2 emissions from travel and reducing the need for virgin materials.

Lighting Controls – Most interior spaces, including restrooms and storage areas, use occupancy sensors that will only turn on lights when the room is being used, and automatically turn off when the room has been vacated.

Energy Recovery Unit – An energy recovery unit recycles the energy used to exhaust the space by capturing the cool air leaving the return air vents, and using it to cool the fresh air entering the building through the HVAC system.

Bike Racks/Changing Rooms – Occupants of the building can make use of the bike racks provided at the building entrance, as well as showers and changing rooms in the adjacent Cass Science building.

Low VOC Finishes – All finishes—paints, coatings, sealants, adhesives and woods—inside the building meet strict guidelines set forth by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, significantly improving the indoor air environment and health for all occupants.